Victim Advocacy Certificate

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The Victim Advocacy Certificate is designed for students who are already working in the criminal justice field, social work, or looking to enter into victim advocacy work since most victim advocates have degrees in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or education.

This certificate is 15 credits, 9 of which must be taken at Charter Oak. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or above.

  • CRJ 325: Ethics in Criminal Justice

    3 credits
  • CRJ 335: Victimology

    3 credits
  • CRJ 340: Sexual and Domestic Violence

    3 credits
  • CRJ 355: Mental Health/Substance Abuse in CRJ

    3 credits
  • CRJ 405: Victims’ Rights and Services

    3 credits
  • Total

    15 credits

Outcomes & Pathways

Students who complete a Victim Advocacy certificate will be able to:

  1. distinguish between ethical and unethical behavior as it applies to the criminal justice field,
  2. relate the types and patterns of family and sexual violence, including myths and realities, cross-cultural and international patterns to prevention and punishment practices and policies,
  3. analyze the impact of criminal justice and the courts policies and practices on victims who have mental health or substance abuse disorders,
  4. apply victim rights to criminal-case scenarios and explain how victims can be assisted in dealing with the effects of crime and the criminal justice system,
  5. identify and analyze victim participation in the criminal justice decision-making, victim services and restitution, and restorative justice initiatives, and
  6. explain how to be an effective victim advocate.

Why Charter Oak State College?